As far as the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) is concerned, the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) workers are back on the job.
However, general secretary Richard Greene is warning that all is not well as workers are still upset, adding the meeting with SSA chairman Ramon Alleyne was still on the cards for today.
“Note that the matter is not fully resolved, but the workers have given a commitment to go back to work. The NUPW will meet with the chairman and the management of the Sanitation Service Authority is to look at the areas of concern that need to be addressed in the performance incentive plan,” he told the DAILY NATION yesterday.
Last Thursday, workers downed tools in what SSA management labelled as a wildcat strike and bad-faith gesture, mostly due to issues arising from the performance incentive allowance. The SSA later released a statement saying the workers had fallen short of achieving targets under the allowance.
NUPW deputy general secretary Wayne Walrond said they were confident they could negotiate an increase.
“We still have some strong views where workers are taking a stance to have payment improved. We are
confident that there is a good argument to improve the offer that was put on the table, where the SSA could review the first payment made in April and secure an improved offer going forward.
“Workers are still incensed because these types of issues have been going on for many years, but they have come around to understand they have to allow the industrial relations process to go on,” he said, adding there were also issues regarding health and safety.
Around noon yesterday, a large number of SSA workers were gathered at the Wildey depot, St Michael, with several heard quarrelling over being treated unfairly. One worker said: “I’ve been here for 25 years and nothing changes. The chairman said to go back to work, but I’m going home. They looking to pressure the men that just come on to work.”
Another worker who was also leaving said there were no supervisors on the job to give him gloves. Others were seen sitting in the bus shelter across the road. However, a few trucks were observed leaving the depot, with some workers back on the job.
Greene said there would always be those who acted on their own, but the union had to speak for the collective.
“Collectively, we have advised our members and other workers of the SSA to go back to work, and we have seen the resumption of work,” he said.
Walrond said the SSA operated on a shift system so it was not unusual to see people going home.
“There are different shifts, so there are some people whose shifts have expired. So it’s not unusual in these kinds of circumstances to see the trucks trickling out. You don’t get 100 per cent all at once, but as you start to move out, you’ll see more and more trucks coming out,” he said.
Keen interest
Some of the workers have called for the intervention of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley. Greene said there was no indication she was getting directly involved, but he was sure any interested parties were taking a keen interest in what was a national issue.
“The negotiations, the talks, have been between NUPW, management of the
Sanitation Service Authority and the chairman of the Sanitation Service Authority, but all stakeholders are interested in a resolution. We are following the procedures for resolving grievances in the public service and for SOEs (state-owned enterprises),” he stated.
Walrond said it was frustrating to continue to have to deal with issues at the SSA year after year, though it was something which occurred across the spectrum of Government.
“In Sanitation and Government departments generally, there is always the issue of commitment to allocate money to improve resources – whether it be human resources, whether it be maintenance of buildings, whether it be proper equipment. It’s always this long, drawn-out, mundane process and we’d like to see a more efficient and quicker process where you get immediate results.
“That being said, I think the time has come to seriously look at a decent wage for SSA workers. Many of them die before retirement. Many of them end up with serious skin infections and other serious ailments. There are even cases of cancer, but it’s something where you have to keep making forceful demands and that’s what we are doing,” he said. (CA)
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